burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

You didn't mention computer platform. If you use Windows, check out DaVinci Resolve. The free version is pretty powerful, and it can be upgraded to a massively powerful pro app for a fee. Adobe Premiere Elements is $100, and runs on Win10 and MacOS. The full Adobe Premiere is a subscription app.

My twins and I use Macs here, so we use Apple iMovie for simple projects, and Final Cut Pro for the good stuff. Final Cut looks and (on the surface) works similar to iMovie, and can import iMovie projects, but it adds hundreds and hundreds of "finesse features" for professional use.

My wife and one of the twins also know Adobe Premiere, which she runs on her work PC, and J runs on the Mac. J also uses After Effects and DaVinci Resolve.

Apple iMovie is very easy to use, very intuitive, yet fairly powerful. It integrates tightly with Apple Photos (still image database and light photo processing), Apple GarageBand (multi-track audio production), and the MacOS system at large.

Photos works particularly well with Serif Affinity Photo and RAW power, a raw file developer plugin for Photos.

GarageBand also runs on iPhones and iPads, and is a VERY powerful recording tool, considering it just comes with the Mac. It's all I usually need for audio-for-video. I've recorded my twins and their musician friends with it for some short film projects... I also use it for video soundtrack sweetening (audio compression, leveling, limiting, equalization, noise filtering, special effects...).

iMovie itself is over 20 years old. I have used it since 2000. When I worked in the corporate world, I used iMovie for most of my training projects. I used the old Final Cut Express for the three biggest projects I did in 2009 and 2010.

iMovie, Photos, and GarageBand are included with every Mac, no extra charge.

Final Cut Pro 10.4.8 is a $300 application, and worth every penny of it, IMHO. Its claim to fame is its ease of use and high processing SPEED. Of the three apps J uses, it's the only one that runs well on his 2012 MacBook Pro. Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve are marginal on the old machine, despite a fast SSD and 16GB RAM.

Final Cut Pro comes with many audio effects from Logic Pro, Apple's professional audio recording and production application. It also integrates with Motion (special effects) and Compressor (video file compression for distribution), Apple's other pro video production apps, as well as the full Logic Pro, a professional audio recording/music production app.

All of these will get even faster and more capable in MacOS 11 running on Apple Silicon, because Apple will then integrate the entire ecosystem, hardware, and software, without any Intel bottlenecks in the way.

We record video with two Lumix GH4 bodies and an array of Lumix lenses, plus some old Nikon and Canon film lenses that have a very different look to them.

Bill Hancock Loc: Wausau, WI

I have been using Pinnacle Studio for a number of years. It does very well for what I use it for. I do church videos and videos I do just for the fun of it. It is not that expensive. They have sales on it often. You can try it free.
https://www.pinnaclesys.com/en/products/studio/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=pinnacle%20studio&utm_campaign=Pinnacle_Bing&msclkid=d67a4f6f7a371f02578e2f29850c97bf

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I’ll stick with Final Cut Pro. Pinnacle Studio does not run on MacOS.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Sorry about that, I use a PC. It's been a while since I asked this question so since then I've purchased Adobe Premiere Elements. I've upgraded it once to a newer version that can handle H2.65 videos. It's been doing what I need it to do and I will upgrade every few years. Thanks for the reply's.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

I'm a cheap bustard.
I wait for the sales after the holidays ... and pick up both Elements for @ $60 to $70
Every other year or so, and I'm good to go.
And Toutube will fill me in- sometimes useful.

jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I use Wondershare/Filmora and am happy with it, but I’m an amateur. Pinnacle Movie Box is way down on my list.

compilot Loc: ARIZONA

Wondershare Filmora 12.5. Bought version 9 some time ago. You can buy for I think, $79, I paid $55. You can also go with subscriptions, but why? They keep improving and upgrading the product, no extra cost. Powerful features that can be intimidating until you work with it a bit. Many free titles, themes, effects, etc. Many additional for more $'s. Complete a project an export to many formats. I have done time-lapse with what I consider great success. I have extracted audio files from on line videos and then used it in 3 or 4 videos that I created. Look at reviews on Youtube, that is how I found it. Very satisfied. Cheers -- Dan.

APS Loc: Southern Indiana

Final Cut Pro. And Adobe edit suite.

compilot Loc: ARIZONA

Update: I got a free copy of DaVinci resolve, used for a while the purchased Studio version, $295. Very steep (for me) learning curve, still at that. Capabilities are amazing and it is a solid platform. One caveat, it requires a super powerful machine to run all the features, high powered processer and highest powered GPU available are recommended.